Shahbaz Aman

Onychomycosis in Lahore, Pakistan

Background Onychomycosis, a common nail disorder, is caused by yeasts, dermatophytes, and nondermatophyte molds. These fungi give rise to diverse clinical presentations. The present study aimed to isolate the causative pathogens and to determine the various clinical patterns of onychomycosis in the population in Lahore, Pakistan.

A randomized double-blind comparative study of terbinafine for 1, 2 and 4 weeks in tinea capitis

Summary We report a randomized, double‐blind study, comparing the relative efficacy and tolerability of oral terbinafine, given for 1, 2 or 4 weeks, in tinea capitis. Of 161 evaluable patients, 53 were treated with terbinafine for 1 week, 51 for 2 weeks and 57 for 4 weeks. Isolated pathogens included Trichophyton violaceum (71.5%), T. tonsurans (14.9%), T. verrucosum (4.3%), Microsporum audouinii (4.3%), M. canis (2.5%), T. schoenleinii (1.9%) and T. mentagrophytes(0.6%). The final evaluation, at 12 weeks, showed cure rates of 73.6, 80.4 and 85.9%, in the respective groups. The adverse effects noted, were not drug related. In our opinion, terbinafine given for 1, 2 or 4 weeks, is equally effective for most cases of tinea capitis.

TINEA CAPITIS IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Background. The causative fungi of tinea capitis vary with geography and time. This study was planned to identify the etiologic agents and determine clinicoetiologic correlations of tinea capitis in Lahore, Pakistan.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): A deadly disease

SARS or severe acute respiratory syndrome is a term used to describe a serious respiratory illness, which has recently been reported in parts of the world and has spread widely over the past G months. At this moment, public health authorities, physicians and scientists around the world are struggling to cope with this rapidly spreading multicountry outbreak of an unexplained new disease in humans. This appears to be the first severe and easily transmissible disease to emerge in the 21st century. Though much about the syndrome remains poorly understood, including the exact identity of the causative virus, the indications are that the outbreak is otherwise being contained.

ORAL ZINC SULPHATE VS. TOPICAL APPLICATION OF SALICYLIC (16.7%) & LACTIC ACID (16.7%) COMBINATION IN THE TREATMENT OF PLANTAR WARTS

ABSTRACT: Background: Warts are commonly acquired viral tumors, caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This virus can infect and cause disease at any site in the stratified squamous epithelium either keratinizing or non-keratinizing. A plantar wart (also called verruca plantaris) is a lesion that appears on the plantar surface of foot as a small, shining, sago-grain papule which soon assumes the typical appearance of a sharply-defined rounded lesion with a rough keratotic surface, surrounded by a smooth collar of thickened horn. Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of oral zinc sulphate versus topical application of salicylic (16.7%) & lactic acid (16.7%) combination, in the treatment of plantar warts. Study Design: Comparative interventional study. Setting and Duration of Study: Department of Dermatology Unit-I, King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital Lahore, from 15 February, 2009 till 14 February, 2010. Methodology: After informed consent, one hundred patients of plantar warts were selected from the outpatient Department of Dermatology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore. The patients were divided into two equal groups; in group A, 50 patients were given oral zinc sulphate (10 mg/kg/day) in two or three divided doses and in group B, 50 patients were advised to apply a combination of salicylic (16.7%) & lactic acid (16.7%) once at night daily. In group A, using oral zinc sulphate, the treatment was given for two months and follow up continued for next 4 months. In group B, the topical preparation was also continued for 2 months or till the complete removal of wart (if before two months) and follow up was extended up to 4 months after treatment. Results: The mean age of patients in group A was 26.2 ± 8.1 years and in group B 26.3 ± 7.3 years. The mean number of warts in group A was 7.9 ± 3.5 and in group B 5.7 ± 2.6. The mean duration of disease in group A was 6.9 ± 4.1 months and in group B 6.0 ± 3.9 months. On follow up at 2 nd month, in group A, 41 (82%) patients showed an excellent efficacy while 9 (18%) patients observed poor efficacy. In group B, 31 (62%) cases experienced an excellent response, 2 (4%) had a good efficacy and 17 (34%) patients showed a poor efficacy. At 4 th month of follow-up, no recurrence of warts was seen in both groups in complete responders. On follow up of the non responders no furthure clearance of warts was observed. Conclusions: It was concluded from this study that oral zinc sulphate is significantly more effective (p-value <0.05) than topical application of salicylic (16.7%) and lactic acid (16.7%) combination in the treatment of plantar warts. Key Words: Plantar warts, oral zinc sulphate, salicylic acid, lactic acid

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical 5% Minoxidil Solution Alone and in Combination with 0.05% Betamethasone Dipropionate Cream in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

Distraction osteogenesis popularized by Ilizarov has been the only solution in most of bone defect nonunions but this has never been worked in old fracture neck of femur with resorbed neck. We applied this principle in a young child with old fracture neck of femur with resorbed neck. We applied across hip external fixator and gradual distraction was started. Resorbed neck was completely formed in 06 months and patient regained his normal leg length and mobility and escaped major surgery.